'B' word is far from the minds of Stocktonians

Sunday

Mar 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Several hundred people sat with rapt attention on Thursday at University of the Pacific, listening to the motivational words of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Bankruptcy was not on their minds.

Mike Klocke

Several hundred people sat with rapt attention on Thursday at University of the Pacific, listening to the motivational words of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Bankruptcy was not on their minds.

Back on the same campus Friday morning, students, staff and supporters gathered at the DeRosa Center to watch the Pacific men's basketball team play in the NCAA Tournament. Despite the disappointing outcome, their thoughts were on basketball and not the other "B" word.

A thousand or so people gathered early Friday evening outside the Bob Hope Theatre in downtown Stockton as the street was transformed into a mini French Quarter. They ate gumbo, red rice and beans and po'boy sandwiches, sipped on Hurricane drinks and listened to high school and college jazz bands. They reveled, giving nary a thought to the "B" word.

A couple hours later, many of those revelers watched jazz giant Wynton Marsalis perform in a sold-out concert at the Bob Hope Theatre. Others, meanwhile, went back to the Pacific campus to watch the women's basketball team win a National Invitational Tournament game. The "B" word? It wasn't given a thought.

And across town, at the county fairgrounds, NASCAR legend Tony Stewart showed up for a little dirt-track racing. The racing icon helped put more than 10,000 people in the seats, and it's guaranteed none of them were contemplating the "B" word.

So there you have it. On the eve of a four-day trial that could very well determine much of Stockton's future, its citizens were not spell-bound or shackled by the word "Bankruptcy."

They enjoyed an unbelievable number of high-quality events and big-name visitors. Condoleezza Rice, Wynton Marsalis and Tony Stewart in a two-day period, with the NCAA Tournament thrown in for good measure. That's just awesome for a city and, frankly, it was a lot of fun covering the events for a couple days.

Alas, the headlines return to bankruptcy on Monday. The topic won't consume all of The Record's front-page space - there are too many other things still going on in everyday life here - but it will be a big focus.

Yet it all seems very strange because the outcome seems so apparent. We could be shocked, but here's what's likely to happen:

» The city and its creditors will get a couple of days to make their cases before bankruptcy judge Christopher M. Klein;

» The judge, who has shown indications that he favors declaring Stockton eligible for bankruptcy, will do so. He could have done this without the trial, but the losing side is sure to appeal. That makes this initial trial key if the case it appealed;

» The battle between Stockton and its creditors will continue, and it will be intense. The end of the trial will not mean a winner and a loser.

» Amid all of this important work in Sacramento, the sideshow will continue in Stockton.

That sideshow is the face-off between Mayor Anthony Silva and City Manager Bob Deis - and the majority of City Council - over how to fight crime in the city.

Silva is pushing forward with his tax initiative, promising dozens if not hundreds of more cops while Deis and others are saying he is being irresponsible and could hamstring the city's finances for years.

It's become apparent that Silva is not backing down - nor will he "be muzzled," we're told - and that he's alienating himself from other city leaders in this pursuit.

That might not matter because, if he's successful in getting the tax initiative approved for a special election, it'll be Stockton voters - many of the same people who helped him upset incumbent Ann Johnston - who decide whether he's putting forth a visionary crime strategy or a pipe dream wrapped in lunacy.

Stay tuned, but do so with this thought: Whatever happens with the "B" trial and the mayor's end run, Stockton will move forward. It must.

Contact Record Editor Mike Klocke at (209) 546-8250 or mklocke@recordnet.com.